Trainer Matt Dale is confident that stable star Fell Swoop is on track for his run in The Everest after the gelding performed well in a Randwick barrier trial on Monday morning.
Fell Swoop is on track for his appearance in The Everest in October. Photo: Steve Hart
Fell Swoop was kept under a firm hold by jockey Tye Angland and completed the 735m hit-out just off the pace of trial winner Nieta; third past the post.
Dale told Racenet that the son of Not A Single Doubt is still showing some of his winter coat, but he is thrilled with everything that he has produced so far and is confident that he is on track for a competitive return in the Group 2 The Shorts (1100m) at Randwick on September 16th.
“It’s exactly what I wanted,” Dale said. “It was every bit as good a trial as he has ever put in at this stage of a campaign.
“His coat is still a bit wintery so that will help bring him on.
“He recovered quickly and is on track for another trial at Rosehill over 900m in two weeks.
“He will resume in The Shorts (1100m) at Randwick then we’ll look at either the Moir or Premiere.”
Fell Swoop has been a strong and consistent performer throughout his entire racing career so far and will return to the races in spring with a commendable record of nine wins and seven minors from only twenty-three starts.
Resuming in 2016 for an agonizingly-close second in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m), Fell Swoop continued to show his quality when fourth in the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) and second in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) most notably.
Placing third in the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes (1100m) upon returning in spring, Fell Swoop ran on for a close second in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) and ended his impressive year third in the Group 1 Darley Classic (1200m).
Taking a couple of runs to find form this year, the six-year-old ran sixth in both the Oakleigh Plate and The Galaxy before working home well to finish third in the TJ Smith Stakes, and was last seen tailing off to finish ninth in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m) in Brisbane on May 13th.
Fell Swoop is currently available at The Everest odds of $26 at Ladbrokes.com.au.
